Elastic cap or cover for bottles, jars, or other vessels.



No. 639,832, Patented Dec. 26, |899;

H. C. SHEARMAN.

ELASTIC CAP 0R COVER FUR BTTLES, JARS. 0R OTHER VESSELS.

(Application led Dec. 26, 1895.)

(No Model.)

INVEN'TCIR:

E'Y W4 ATT'Y,

TN: wams PETERS co, PM10-umm w/snmanm c L.

UNITED STATES PATENT EETcFE.

HENRY C. SIIEARMAN, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

ELASTIC CAP OR COVER FOR BOTTLES, JARS, OR OTHER VESSELS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 639,832, dated December26, 1899.

Application filed December 26,1895. Serial No. 573,385. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

' Be it known that I, HENRY C. SHEARMAN, a citizen of the United States,resid ing at Providence, in the State of Rhode Island,have invented anew and useful Improvement in Elastic Caps or Covers for Bottles, Jars,or other Vessels, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a substitute for the ordinaryStoppers of cork, glass, rubber, or other material, which substitute maybe used for closing or use upon venting the leakage of the contents andalso j preventing access of air thereto.

It also consists in the combination of the elastic cap with an air-valveand a projecting tube and with a retaining-band; and my inventionincludes the application of said improvements to flexible elastictubing, bulbs, nipples, and other caps.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents an axial section ofthe cap provided with an opening and with a valve at the inner side ofthe cap. Fig. 2 represents an under view of the same. Fig. 3 representsan axial section of the cap provided with a valve located within a tubeat the outer side of the cap. Fig. 4 represents an axial lsection of thecap provided with a band for retaining the cap upon the neck of theVessel. Fig. 5 represents a back View of the same. p Fig. 6 represents asection showing the elastic cap of Fig. 4 as attached to the bottle.Fig. 7 represents a section showing the said elastic cap when removedand held at the neck of the bottle by means of the band.

In the drawings, A represents the improved elastic cap, which ispreferably made of rubber formed in a mold, so as to have an internaldiameter considerably less than the diameter of the neck of the bottleor vessel to which it is applied, the said cap being provided with theinwardly-extending annular reinforcement b, which forms a shoulderadapted to close under the shoulder c of the collar l of the neck of thebottle or vessel B, thus'preventing the cap from slipping off of theneck and effectually preventing the leakage of the contents of thevessel and the access of air thereto.

In order to provide for the ready removal of the elastic cap A from theneck of the vessel to which it is applied, the said cap maybe providedwith one or more ears e, extending outward or downward below theretainingshoulder b of the cap, and where only one ear or projection isused it may extend atan angle outwardly from and around the rim of thecap,

forming a projecting liange, which may have its outer peripherythickened in such manner as to furnish a firm hold for the thumb andfinger at any part of its circumference in adjusting and removing thesaid cap from the mouth of the vessel, and the said cap may be providedwith an openingf, adapted for the insertion of a metallic or other tube,by means of which the contents may be discharged without the removal ofthe cap, or a rod may be inserted in the openingf, if desired, for anypurpose. In addition to the opening f a val ve g, as shown in Fig. 1,may be employed to admit the air to the vessel while the contents arebeing Withdrawn through the said opening or through a pipe insertedtherein,the said valve being formed of the same molded material as thatof the cap and made in hollow spherical form and having a slit s madetherein for the passage of air or other fluid in one direction, thepressure upon the convex side of the valve serving to prevent thepassage of the same in the opposite direction. l adapted to prevent theingress of air or other fluid into the vessel is shown in Fig. 3, and incase it is desirable to connect a pipe or tube with the said valve atubular reinforcement h of the same material of the cap is provided, asshown in Figs l and 3, to which the said pipe or tube may be attached.

My improved cap or cover for bottles and other vessels may be providedwith an annular band t', preferably of the same flexible and elasticmaterial as that of the cap, the said A valve IOO a ceases' annular bandbeing joined with the cap by means of the flexible connection j. I-prefer to mold these parts in one piece with the cap, and when the capand band are secured to the bottle or vessel, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7,the cap may be readily removed from the mouth of the said vessel andstill be connected with its neck by means of the flexible connectionj,which will act as a hinge and allow the vessel to be lled or decantedand the cap readjusted without the removal ot' the band t' from theneck.

I claim as my invention- 1. A flexible and elastic cap or cover ofrubber or other suitable material, provided with a projecting tube,molded in the material of the cap or cover, and adapted for theattachment of a pipe or tube thereto, and a hollow spherically-formedvalve provided with a slitopening, arranged in connection with themolded tube, substantially as described.

2. A flexible and elastic cap or cover, of rubber or other suitablematerial, provided with an inwardly-extending molded shoulder, orreinforcement, adapted to clasp the neck of the vessel, and theconnected annular band,

' whereby the removed cap will be held in connection with the neck ofthe vessel, substantially as described.

3. A flexible and elastic cap or cover of rubber or other suitablematerial, provided with a projecting tube molded in the material of thecap or cover, and adapted for the attachmeut of a pipe or tube thereto,and a hollow spherically-form ed valve provided with a slitopeningarranged in connection with the molded tube, and an opening in the capor cover, through which a tube or rod may be inserted substantially asdescribed.

4. A flexible elastic cap or cover of rubber or other suitable material,provided with a projectingtube molded in the material of the cap orcover, and adapted for the attachment of a pipe or tube thereto, and ahollow spherically-formed valve,provided witha slit-opening arranged inconnection with the molded tube, said cap or cover being provided withone or more ears, extending outwardly from' the thickened rim of thecap, to facilitate the attachment or detachment of the cap,substantially as described.

5. Allexible and elastic cap or cover of rubber or other suitablematerial, provided with an inwardly-extending molded shoulder orreinforcement, adapted to clasp the neck of the vessel, and one' or moreears extending outwardly from the thickened rim of the cap, tofacilitate the attachment or detachment of the cap, and the connectedretaining-band whereby the removed cap will be heldin connection withthe neck lof the vessel, substantially as described.

6. A flexible and elastic cap or cover of rubber or other suitablematerial, provided with a projecting tube molded in the material of thecap or cover, and adapted for the attach- Vment of a pipe or tubethereto, and a hollow spherically-formed valve provided with aslitopening, arranged in connection with the molded tube, and an openingin the cap or cover through which a tube or rod may be inserted, saidcap or cover being provided with one or more ears extending outwardlyfrom the thickened rim of the cap, to facilitate the attachmentv ordetachment of the cap, substantially as described. Y

HENRY C..SIIEARMAN.

Witnesses: j

SOCRATES SCHOLFIELD, ANNIE SHEARMAN.

